Fire briefly closes Highway 97

A portion of Highway 97 through Kelowna was closed Monday night so fire-fighting crews could deal with a blaze that was perilously close to condo buildings.

The fire, which happened on the roadside between Burtch and Gordon Drive, broke out just after 11 p.m. and, according to witness Mike Beck, it appeared perilously closed to a nearby condo building. The building was evacuated, but residents were able to return in short order as firefighters worked swiftly.